Chapter 17 - The Simplicity of the Carefree Life
Bonhoeffer- '"Likewise it is man's bounden duty to work and do things, and yet withal to know that it is Another who nurtureth him: it is not his own work, but the bounteous blessing of God. It is true that the bird doth neither sow nor reap, yet would she die of hunger if she flew not in search of food. But that she findeth the same is not her work, but the goodness of God. For who put the food there, that she might find it? For where God hath put nought, none findeth, even though the whole world were to work itself to death in search thereof" (Luther)
But if the Creator thus sustains the birds and lilies, should he not much more as a Father nourish his own children, who daily pray to him? Should he not be able to grant them the necessities of life, when all earthly goods belong to him, and when he can distribute them according to his pleasure? '
My thoughts-
Do we believe the Bible?
This is a question that many answer quickly, saying, "Yes."
But then you look upon their lives and see them living in such a way that if they truly believe the Bible then you have to question whether or not they truly love God.
Do we love God?
We've grown so used to our idea of love it's easy for us to answer yes, we do. It's easy because we believe love is something that you abuse and treat any way you desire and it will still be love. The concept of love and obedience has been altered. We don't like the 'obey' part of wedding vows because it makes us feel subservient to another. We pick and choose our obedience, don't we? We like to obey when it suits us.
Did love exist before sin existed?
Yes.
And because love existed before sin existed, love is everlasting while sin is not. Sin has tried to destroy love, perverting it so that it's become something elusive and undesirable. I'm not talking about the love we imagine love to be, but God's love, the true love. God is love. That love we imagine is here, there and everywhere, people claim to have and to give and to take it all the time- loving in one moment, and unloving the next as if that love were truly real- but it's only an illusion of love we manufacture.
God's love, is a belief so strong it doubts nothing at all.
God's love, is giving of ALL things good.
Think about God in Eden with the first couple before sin ever entered mankind. He created a world for them. He filled the world with wonderful, exquisite things beyond our imagination. He gave us everything we could ever desire and Adam and Eve were loved. When a tempter entered the picture the weakness of mankind was exposed. Yet the love of mankind's Creator knew the possible weakness existed when He gave mankind the power to choose. Creating mankind with a plan in mind should they choose to sin, God still would NOT force mankind to accept His plan. The plan included obedience. So many say it exclusively means accepting what Christ has done and nothing else, and guess what, they're right. That acceptance includes obedience. When we accept what Christ has done for us, we are accepting all that He's done and He obeyed God completely. He offers us the ability through the Holy Spirit to choose to obey. We ALL have that same freedom of choice that was given to us upon creation. We all can choose to obey or disobey.
So when we say we believe the Bible, that we love God, are we choosing to following in the example of our Savior and obey, are we loving, truly loving?
And if we love God, we believe, and if we believe we obey.
He wants us to trust Him, that He will provide. Do we trust Him?
Our anxiousness over the cares of this life - truly should not be focused on our temporal needs. If we believe in love, if we believe in God, we know He will take care of us.
We know God will provide, and we step out in FAITH knowing He will.
All through HIS LOVE, HIS AMAZING UNENDING LOVE!
May we LOVE.
Bonhoeffer- '"Likewise it is man's bounden duty to work and do things, and yet withal to know that it is Another who nurtureth him: it is not his own work, but the bounteous blessing of God. It is true that the bird doth neither sow nor reap, yet would she die of hunger if she flew not in search of food. But that she findeth the same is not her work, but the goodness of God. For who put the food there, that she might find it? For where God hath put nought, none findeth, even though the whole world were to work itself to death in search thereof" (Luther)
But if the Creator thus sustains the birds and lilies, should he not much more as a Father nourish his own children, who daily pray to him? Should he not be able to grant them the necessities of life, when all earthly goods belong to him, and when he can distribute them according to his pleasure? '
My thoughts-
Do we believe the Bible?
This is a question that many answer quickly, saying, "Yes."
But then you look upon their lives and see them living in such a way that if they truly believe the Bible then you have to question whether or not they truly love God.
Do we love God?
We've grown so used to our idea of love it's easy for us to answer yes, we do. It's easy because we believe love is something that you abuse and treat any way you desire and it will still be love. The concept of love and obedience has been altered. We don't like the 'obey' part of wedding vows because it makes us feel subservient to another. We pick and choose our obedience, don't we? We like to obey when it suits us.
Did love exist before sin existed?
Yes.
And because love existed before sin existed, love is everlasting while sin is not. Sin has tried to destroy love, perverting it so that it's become something elusive and undesirable. I'm not talking about the love we imagine love to be, but God's love, the true love. God is love. That love we imagine is here, there and everywhere, people claim to have and to give and to take it all the time- loving in one moment, and unloving the next as if that love were truly real- but it's only an illusion of love we manufacture.
God's love, is a belief so strong it doubts nothing at all.
God's love, is giving of ALL things good.
Think about God in Eden with the first couple before sin ever entered mankind. He created a world for them. He filled the world with wonderful, exquisite things beyond our imagination. He gave us everything we could ever desire and Adam and Eve were loved. When a tempter entered the picture the weakness of mankind was exposed. Yet the love of mankind's Creator knew the possible weakness existed when He gave mankind the power to choose. Creating mankind with a plan in mind should they choose to sin, God still would NOT force mankind to accept His plan. The plan included obedience. So many say it exclusively means accepting what Christ has done and nothing else, and guess what, they're right. That acceptance includes obedience. When we accept what Christ has done for us, we are accepting all that He's done and He obeyed God completely. He offers us the ability through the Holy Spirit to choose to obey. We ALL have that same freedom of choice that was given to us upon creation. We all can choose to obey or disobey.
So when we say we believe the Bible, that we love God, are we choosing to following in the example of our Savior and obey, are we loving, truly loving?
And if we love God, we believe, and if we believe we obey.
He wants us to trust Him, that He will provide. Do we trust Him?
Our anxiousness over the cares of this life - truly should not be focused on our temporal needs. If we believe in love, if we believe in God, we know He will take care of us.
We know God will provide, and we step out in FAITH knowing He will.
All through HIS LOVE, HIS AMAZING UNENDING LOVE!
May we LOVE.
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